Lindsey Vonn suffers multiple injuries in training crash

From Christina MacFarlane, CNN

Updated 2052 GMT (0452 HKT) November 20, 2013

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

American skier Lindsey Vonn clinched World Cup victory No. 62 on Sunday, January 18, equaling the all-time record that has stood for 35 years. Vonn's road to recovery from a serious injury has been a long and painful one.

Hide Caption

1 of 8

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

Hospital dash after the crash – Vonn had to be airlifted off the slopes at the 2013 World Championships after a horrific knee injury, which led to a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Hide Caption

2 of 8

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

Rehab and recovery – Vonn's rehabilitation was overseen by both Red Bull and the U.S. Ski team, a case of a slowly-slowly approach to make sure no further damage was done to the joint.

Hide Caption

3 of 8

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

Testing the nearly new knee – Vonn made a sensational return to action the following August at a U.S. team training camp in Chile's Andes Mountains. She insisted her damaged right knee felt as good as her unaffected left knee.

Hide Caption

4 of 8

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

A sporting romance – Vonn's attempted return to competitive skiing has come under heightened scrutiny because of her relationship with the world's top-ranked golfer Tiger Woods.

Hide Caption

5 of 8

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

Knee jerk reaction – Vonn stretches her troublesome knee as she prepares for downhill training at Copper Mountain, Colorado -- but it's one step forward two steps back for the 29-year-old as she aggravates the injury.

Hide Caption

6 of 8

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

Gathering pace – There are celebrations at last for the Olympic champion as she finishes fifth in December's Super-G at the World Cup in Lake Louise, Canada.

Hide Caption

7 of 8

Lindsey Vonn's comeback on ice8 photos

No hope on the slope – There is more misfortune as Vonn pulls out of a downhill race in December. She announces in January 2014 that she will not defend her downhill title at February's Winter Olympics in Russia.

Skier Lindsey Vonn wins fifth World Cup

Just Watched

Tiger talks Turkey and Vonn

"We will provide a further update when new information becomes available."

The news comes as a significant blow to Vonn, who was preparing to return to competitive racing after her serious knee injury earlier this year.

Vonn was airlifted to a hospital in February after she landed heavily on her right knee on the opening day of the Alpine Ski World Championships in Austria. She underwent surgery for knee reconstruction.